power steering conversion kit

[jibs]

Who sells the best, most complete, easy to install power steering conversion kit? For my 1965 C-10 2 wheel drive pickup. Part numbers if you have them, whose did you use? Thanks

[Arne]

I'm interested in this as well. I'm waffling between a normal power steering conversion or going whole hog with a power rack & pinion. Looking forward to some replies.

[JohnIL]

I'm planning to use Speedway Motors part #91015019 in my '65, unless somebody has a better option or if someone has a horror story about the Speedway Motors kit.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/60-66...ox,462210.html

John

[jibs]

Originally Posted by JohnIL

I'm planning to use Speedway Motors part #91015019 in my '65, unless somebody has a better option or if someone has a horror story about the Speedway Motors kit.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/60-66...ox,462210.html

John

I looked at that one too, when you click "View Kit Components" its say back ordered with no date for delivery.

[JohnIL]

Originally Posted by jibs

I looked at that one too, when you click "View Kit Components" its say back ordered with no date for delivery.

I saw that too. But, if you drill down in to each component of the kit, the only part that is actually on back order is the pressure line.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/D-R-C...ne,119433.html

I don't know if Speedway would be willing to sell the kit without that part, but you could certainly source the pressure line elsewhere.

I'm probably a year away from doing the power steering on my truck, so I've got time for the supply chain to sort itself out. If you're ready to move forward now, you may have to buy the kit components separately and find a pressure line somewhere else. Obviously, that's not an ideal solution, but at least you would know that the major components would all work together.

[jibs]

Anyone else??

[1966c10shrtbd]

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/Catalog.htm

[jibs]

Originally Posted by 1966c10shrtbd

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/Catalog.htm

Nice, but maybe you didn't read my question, I'm looking for a power steering conversion kit, not just the pump brackets.

[61hawk]

Another option is going with the Volvo electric power steering pump. You can mount the pump anywhere on the vehicle.

[JohnIL]

Originally Posted by 61hawk

Another option is going with the Volvo electric power steering pump. You can mount the pump anywhere on the vehicle.

Cool idea! Can the electric pump be used with a power steering gearbox or is it specifically for a power rack and pinion? Asked a different way, does the electric pump provide the correct pressure and volume for a power steering gearbox?

Thanks.
John

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by jibs

Nice, but maybe you didn't read my question, I'm looking for a power steering conversion kit, not just the pump brackets.

Do you have a V8?

[jibs]

Yes 350 Chevy

[jibs]

Originally Posted by 61hawk

Another option is going with the Volvo electric power steering pump. You can mount the pump anywhere on the vehicle.

Tell me more. I've never heard of using one.

[61hawk]

Originally Posted by JohnIL

Cool idea! Can the electric pump be used with a power steering gearbox or is it specifically for a power rack and pinion? Asked a different way, does the electric pump provide the correct pressure and volume for a power steering gearbox?

Thanks.
John

It can go with a power steering box.

[61hawk]

Originally Posted by jibs

Tell me more. I've never heard of using one.

Google searches will come up with several discussions on the swap. It's a big modification with the drifting crowd. Here are a few that I've bookmarked:

https://www.corral.net/threads/volvo...te-up.2499503/

https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar...racuda.486613/

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....-pump-in-stude

[jibs]

Has anyone tried a Prius electric steering box? Might be better than the electric pump. Looking at all options.

[61hawk]

Originally Posted by jibs

Has anyone tried a Prius electric steering box? Might be better than the electric pump. Looking at all options.

That's the route I was headed in before looking at the Volvo pump. Nobody makes a bolt in kit, you'd have to buy the motor and parts and figure out where to put it inline in the steering column. Also you can not have anything other than the steering shaft in the column, so that eliminates an automatic or manual shifting on the column. It will only work with floor shift.

[theastronaut]

The column mount electric assists still leave you with a worn out, slow ratio steering box. Swapping to a 70's/80's power steering box gets you power steering and a quicker steering ratio so you don't have to crank the wheel three full rounds to park.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by MT65

The “kit” should consist of
1- capt fabs mount brackets
2- alan groves ps pump mount….depending on your water pump length
3- rebuilt steering box from 86 chevy..what I used
4-power steering cooler….there’s one on all new vehicles
5-hoses as necessary

This Prius and volvo electric stuff…really…the only things electric should be
Lights
Starter
Ignition

I can’t believe what I have been reading lately , don’t know whether to laugh or just go back to my shop in bewilderment….

The electric assist units that mounts in the column can be a good thing, some have the option to add a switch to adjust how much they assist. Way too many of the conventionally converted systems (or even older cars with factory power steering) I’ve driven have had very little steering feel and take very little or no effort to steer, making the car not fun to drive at all. With hydraulic power steering you could fiddle around with swapping out restrictors to dial back assist, or with electric you could simply twist a knob. Electric is only a good idea when the current steering box is tight and has a quick enough ratio though. It’s great for applications where there isn’t room for a normal engine driven pump, or track cars where the pump would be at high rpm for a long time.


Also, the quality of most readily available parts store rebuilt steering boxes is really poor these days. Use a new CPP box, or a rebuilt box from a company like RedHead Steering Gear to make sure it works as it should.

[61hawk]

Originally Posted by MT65

The “kit” should consist of
1- capt fabs mount brackets
2- alan groves ps pump mount….depending on your water pump length
3- rebuilt steering box from 86 chevy..what I used
4-power steering cooler….there’s one on all new vehicles
5-hoses as necessary

This Prius and volvo electric stuff…really…the only things electric should be
Lights
Starter
Ignition

I can’t believe what I have been reading lately , don’t know whether to laugh or just go back to my shop in bewilderment….

What's your problem with the Volvo electric power steering pump? Other than the fact that it's something other than what you use. The only difference between it and factory is it's powered by an electric motor instead of a pulley. Its a proven system. I'd hate to get your opinion on an electric water pump.

My suggestion is you go back to your shop where you can pretend it's still 1974. Enjoy your truck with no radio, defroster/heater fan, windshield wipers (unless you're running a vacuum system), etc...

BTW - I'm doing an engine swap, putting in "gasp" a Chrysler 331 Hemi. The fact is that they don't make a bracket for power steering because back in 1954 Chrysler incorporated the power steering in with the generator as one unit. I don't want to use a generator, I don't want to spend $1200 having a generator converted to an alternator. HotHead Hemi does make a P/S pump bracket... but guess what, it doesn't fit on the 331. I have three choices... manual steering, Electric Power Assisted Steering, or go with a remote electric steering pump. What's your solution? Go with manual with the 31x10.5 tires on the truck?

[Arne]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Also, the quality of most readily available parts store rebuilt steering boxes is really poor these days.

This is one of the big reasons I'm looking at a rack & pinion conversion instead. Steering parts are all new.

And a plus for the electric options is that you still have power assist even if the engine stalls.

[Chevy Fleetside]

This is a bolt in unit. The hardest thing to do will probably be hooking up the steering column. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...gaAtlAEALw_wcB

This is the kit from POL https://www.performanceonline.com/19...caAjPMEALw_wcB

[Arne]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

This is a bolt in unit. The hardest thing to do will probably be hooking up the steering column. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...gaAtlAEALw_wcB

This is the kit from POL https://www.performanceonline.com/19...caAjPMEALw_wcB

Need to ask some questions on that one from Summit. The picture shows a complete kit with pump, hoses, etc.

But the product note says, "Rack and pinion with mounting bracket and hardware only."

Edit - The kit from Summit is from Unisteer. Unisteer does not list that part number on their site. Summit is using the complete kit picture from the following kit, but with the small footnote about rack and bracket only. The complete Unisteer kit does look like a nice package, but it's about $400 more than building a similar package from Performance Online and others.

https://www.unisteer.com/collections...ack-pinion-kit

[61hawk]

Originally Posted by MT65

Get creative and build one for yourself, I’ve built many mounts and brackets that were not “available “, just because they’re not for sale from a supplier doesn’t mean that they are not available..good for you on the hemi, I have one in an old coupe..392 w8/71, at one time owned 19 of them,,1954 with extended bell won’t be much fun to work with, but to each his own.
Yep, I would go back to 74, young , logging, having a great time, now retired, busy building things(cars/hot rods), not as much time now, you come to my shop, right now I’m booked 2yrs out…

Why fab up something when a better solution is already available? I have a new P/S box (OEM not rebuilt) and I can tuck the pump away where it's not seen.

My 1954 331 isn't an extended bell housing, it's currently mounted to an A727.

[jibs]

[QUOTE=61hawk;9142353]Why fab up something when a better solution is already available? I have a new P/S box (OEM not rebuilt) and I can tuck the pump away where it's not seen.

I like this idea, any pictures of the electric pump mounted?